Eko Widianto, Malang – Dozens of students from Papua united under the Papuan Students Alliance launched a protest at the Malang City Hall on Friday, September 4, 2015, demanding President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to investigate civilian shootings by military personnel.

Siteri Sauvakacolo and Solomone Rabulu – West Papua will apply to be a member of the Pacific Islands Development Forum, even though freedom fighter Octovanius Mote was denied entry into the PIDF meeting currently being held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – Indonesian Bishop John Philip Saklil of Timika in Indonesia's Papua province accused the military and police of carrying out violent attacks on civilians in the conflict-prone region, calling security personnel "protectors of immoral criminals".

Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the Board of Regional Leadership Student Association Central Mountains of Papua Indonesia (DPW-AMPTPI) East Indonesia, Nathan Naftali Tebai revealed that the military's heavy presence is hampering development programs in Papua.

Tebai urged the Government of Papua Province to evaluate the performance of the military.

Jayapura, Jubi – Political prisoner Filep Karma has refused sentence cuts granted to prisoners by the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights to mark independence day.

The head of Abepura Prison, Bagus Kurniawan told Jubi on Saturday (29/8/2015) that Filep Karma is still in jail.

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Conducting its own investigation into a recent shooting in Koperapoka, Mimika regency, Papua, that claimed the lives of two civilians, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has promised to serve justice to any soldiers proven to have been involved in the incident.

Jakarta – A National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) team is scheduled to visit Timika, Papua, in the beginning of September to investigate into a shooting incident allegedly perpetrated by military personnel on Friday that killed two Kamoro ethnic group members.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Two members of the Military District Command (Kodim) 1710/Timika have been arrested following a shooting in Koperapoka, Mimika regency, Papua, that left two civilians dead and two others wounded.

The two soldiers, First Sgt. Arshar and Chief Sgt. Makher, were detained by the military police sub-detachment XVII-I/Cenderawasih.

Mimika, Papua – Two people were killed and two others seriously injured when two soldiers opened fire in Timika Baru district, Mimika regency, in Papua early on Friday kompas.com reported.

The incident started when two military personnel rode a motorcycle along Jl. Bhayangkara in Timika at 2:35 a.m. on Friday while a crowd of about 100 people were having a party on the road.

Robert Vanwi Subiyat, Jayapura – The Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Friday that a shooting that left dead two civilians and injured four in Papua early on Friday indeed involved one of its soldiers, but added that only "two to three" shots were fired, in self-defense.

Michael Taylor and Wilda Asmarini, Jakarta – Freeport-McMoran said exports of copper from its giant Indonesian mine have slowed to a trickle over the past month as it faces new rules on how buyers pay for metal, with the government showing no sign of handing it a second waiver.

Santon Tekege – Nabire based human rights activist Gunawan Inggeruhi has stated that an oil palm company managed by PT New Nabire and PT SAD, has caused uneasiness amongst citizens of Wami and Sima, Yaur district, in Nabire region.

It remains unclear whether the West Papuan activist Filep Karma will soon walk free from Abepura Prison in Indonesia's eastern region.

Karma has served two thirds of a 15-year jail term for treason after he raised the banned Papuan Morning Star flag in 2004. Last week, he rejected an offer of remission on Indonesia's Independence Day, saying he would only accept unconditional release.

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Newly inaugurated Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that one of his first priorities will be to solve long-standing problems in the country's easternmost province of Papua.

Carmel Sepuloni was one of around ten MPs who met with the visiting secretary-general of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Octo Mote last night in Wellington.

Mr Mote discussed what he describes as growing regional support for international recognition of West Papuans' concerns with Indonesian rule.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua is calling on the Pacific Islands Forum leaders to send a human rights fact finding mission to the Indonesian region.

The movement is seen as the body representing the Melanesian people and recently became an observer member at the group which unites the Melanesian countries, the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

While New Zealand protesters were giving an emphatic thumbs down to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership corporate slap in the face of democracy at the weekend, a quietly spoken West Papuan in a yellow raincoat was offering solidarity at the Auckland march.

Auckland – West Papuan pro-independence leader Octo Mote, currently visiting New Zealand on a lobbying mission, marched in solidarity along with thousands of protesters in Auckland yesterday voicing their opposition to the controversial proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership pact.

Ben Hillier – "West Papuans know this day, 15 August, as 'Betrayal Day'." Jacob Rumbiak, a veteran leader of the West Papuan nationalist movement, is speaking at a Melbourne commemoration of the signing of the New York Agreement. Similar protests, events and meetings have been held around the world in solidarity with the West Papuan struggle for merdeka – freedom.

Fiji – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has today welcomed the recommendation set by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat's Special Sub-Committee on Regionalism (SSCR) and the Forum Officials Committee for West Papua to be one of the top priority issues of the regional agenda.

Lealaiauloto Aigaletaulealea Tauafiafi – In the 1960s, West Papuans were sacrificed in the name of Cold War politics – and the United Nations have done nothing about it according to Jennifer Robinson, a London-based human rights lawyer.

In the weekend, West Papua independence leader and international Free West Papua lobbyist, Mr Benny Wenda described the reality for his people.

Jayapura – An unidentified person burned an Indonesian flag in Mimika Baru, Timika city, Papua, on Thursday ahead of the 70th anniversary of independence.

Girish Sawlani – The Papua New Guinea Defence Force has denied reports from a senior Indonesian official that its soldiers claimed part of Indonesian territory in the bordering Papua province.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military, or TNI, says it will set up a security post in the Papuan border village of Yakyu, in Merauke district, following a report that soldiers from neighboring Papua New Guinea last week ordered residents there to lower the Indonesian flag.

Tom Allard, Jakarta – Papuan independence leader Filep Karma is due to be released next week from prison, even as he resists freedom until guaranteed he can agitate for self-rule without any threat to his safety or monitoring by intelligence agencies.

Jakarta – Newly appointed Papua Police chief Paulus Waterpauw said that he would continue the legal follow up of the Tolikara incident in Papua despite an announcement that the conflicting sides had made peace.

"This [incident] must be legally processed, not just dealt with by a customary settlement," said Paulus as quoted by Antara news agency on Wednesday.

Jayapura, Jubi – – The church has demanded Papua Police to remove the Jayapura deputy police chief (Wakapolres) be fired over a raid carried out by dozens of officers around the Kingmi Church in Doyo Baru, Jayapura regency on Sunday (09/08/2015).

Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) announced on Monday that it had found four human rights violations during a clash instigated by a Christian group affiliated with the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) in Tolikara, Papua, last month.

Moyang Kasih Dewimerdeka, Jakarta – Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P Marsudi said that her Ministry is planning to streamline the process for foreign journalists wishing to report from Papua.

"We will attempt to simplify the matter as much as we can," said Retno on Monday, August 10, 2015.

Pacnews – Increased regional awareness of alleged violence and human rights violations in West Papua has convinced the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat's Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism (SSCR) to recommend that it becomes one of the five priority issues to be the agenda of the Pacific Forum Leaders when they meet in Papua New Guinea next month.

Jakarta – Chairman of House of Representatives Commission I overseeing foreign affairs and defense Mahfudz Siddiq has called for a probe on the alleged presence of Israeli nationals and Jewish religious insignia on houses in Tolikara, Papua.

Dear Pacific Island Forum leaders,

We are writing to you at a critical juncture for the people of West Papua and regional recognition of their struggle to end human rights violations in their land.

Jayapura – The Papuan Police questioned Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI) president Dorman Wandikbo for six hours on Sunday over a fatal incident that occurred in Tolikara on July 17.

Two lawyers represented the GIDI chairman during the questioning, Sr. Adj. Comr. Nurhabri told Antara news agency on Tuesday.

Jakarta, Jubi – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said the government is adopting a persuasive approach to deal with Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Open letter to Pacific Island Forum leaders – West Papua must be raised at the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting.

Dear Pacific Island Forum leaders,

We are writing to you at a critical juncture for the people of West Papua and regional recognition of their struggle to end human rights violations in their land.

Oktovianus Pogau, Jayapura – The president of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI), Pastor Dorman Wandikmbo insists that the mushola (small mosque) that was burnt down recently in Karubaga district, Tolikara regency, Papua, was built on land owned by the GIDI.

Jayapura, Jubi – Human right activist Markus Haluk said the threat of Papuan population has became obvious. The population of indigenous Papuan begins to decrease while the number of non-Papua is drastically rising. It predicts the number of Papuan in 2030 would be 15% of total population in Papua comprising of 2,371,800 indigenous and 13,228,800 non-Papuans.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Tolikara Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Soeroso, has been reassigned following the recent riot, which saw angry masses burn down kiosks and a musholla (small mosque), during the Idul Fitri holiday on July. 17.

The Australia West Papua Association is calling on Pacific Islands Forum leaders to address what it describes as a deteriorating human rights situation in Indonesia's Papuan provinces.

Its call comes in the lead up to the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit to be held in Papua New Guinea in September.

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – Giant gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia has received certainty from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry that its export permit, which ended last week, will be extended.

Greg Poulgrain, Brisbane, Australia – One main issue is still to be resolved in the hard bargaining by Freeport Indonesia regarding its contract of work. Agreements have already been reached to enhance share divestment, increase the royalties and build a new smelter, despite the temporary delay over the location.

Dear Pacific Islands Forum leaders,

On behalf of the Australia West Papua Association (Sydney), I am writing to you concerning the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua[1].

We the undersigned are part of a national solidarity network supporting a free West Papua. We publicly disassociate ourselves from the anti-Muslim and anti-refugee views of Reclaim Australia, the United Patriotic Front, Rise Up Australia and others who associate with these groups. We extend a warm welcome to Muslims and refugees, many who are also West Papuan.

Retno Ayuningtyas & Dion Bisara, Jakarta – Freeport Indonesia, the local unit of US mining giant Freeport McMoRan, remains hopeful to secure an export permit from the government after missing Saturday's deadline. The speed bump effectively halted the company's exports, putting its mining production at risk.

Susan Taylor, Bernadette Christina & Fergus Jensen, Toronto/Jakarta – Shares of diversified miner and energy producer Freeport-McMoRan sank for a second session on Friday, as uncertainty around Indonesian mining contracts added to worries about spending plans, high debt and falling commodity prices.

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Human rights activists have called on the government and the National Police to carry out a transparent investigation into a fatal clash that occurred in Tolikara, Papua, last week.

Ganug Nugroho Adi, Surakarta, Central Java – Despite a peace agreement after an incident in Tolikara, Papua, thousands of Muslims from various groups in Surakarta, Central Java, staged a rally on Friday to protest the violence.

Faiz Nashrillah, Jakarta – Chairman of human rights watchdog group Setara Institute Hendardi, said on Saturday, July 25, 2015, that the roots of Tolikara incident are injustice and continued discrimination.

Ina Parlina and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta/Jayapura – In an effort to further establish peace after last week's Tolikara incident in Papua, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo hosted religious leaders from the regency and the province for a meeting at the State Palace on Friday.

Arya Dipa, Bandung – The Persatuan Islam (Persis) Muslim group, which has a stronghold in West Java, has assured the safety of churches in the province following the Tolikara tragedy in Papua.

Persis West Java chapter vice secretary Dadang Fahmi urged every Persis member across the country to do the same thing.